Gearing



April 28, 1925.

r 1,535,409 W. H. GEORGE GEARING Filed July 26, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jzzre/zzbr' 723116401]? 61 0/51 6/ *April 28, 1925. 1,535,409 H. GEORGE GEARING Fil y 26. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

)ZQZZicmz/ffieor ,6 4 Z/Wa 4 Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. GEORGE, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEXTER COMPANY,

OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

GEARING.

Application field July 26, 1923.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, lVlLLiAM H. Gnome. a cit'zen of the United States. and a residel'it of Fairlield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gearing; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gearing and consists of theinatters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved gearing espe' cially adapted for use in a domestic washing machine of the oscillating cylinder type, wherein n'reans are provided to slow down the movement of the cyl nder at each limit of its oscillation and to include in the gearing, a yielding member adapted to coact with said means in such a manner as to substantially eliminate from the rest of the gearing, the shock or jar of reversal of the cylinder.

Another object of the invention is to in clude in the gearing, a simple and novel structure which insures the stopping of the clothes cylinder in a predetermined position.

These objects of the invention, together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings V Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a domestic washing machine of the cabinet type, embodying my invention, with parts of the casing broken away to more clearly show the interior thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical detail section through the same, astaken in a plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the gear casing as taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale, as taken on the line Jr-4. of Fig. 3.

Serial No. 653,868.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a pltman or connecting rod embod ed in my improved gearing.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a clutch member embodied in my improved gearing.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accon'ipanying drawings :-l.0 indicates as a whole, the cabinet or casing of a domestic washing machine of the osc'llating cylinder type. Said casing is made of sheet metal and includes the upright end walls 11, 11 and upright front and rear walls 12 and 13 which merge into a rounded top wall 1 1. In said top wall is provided a door The casing s braced at its corners and at its ends and sides in any suitable manner. At the bottom end of the casing. are channel bars 16 and 17, arranged adjacent the front and rear walls 12 and 13 and between said Clltllb nel bars is a third brace bar 18. Threaded through the frontchannel bar 10 is an elongated thumb screw 19 which is adapted to be actuated to engage the floor to level the machine and prevent a rolling movementof mach ne on its casters 20, when it is in use. To increase the rigidity of the casii'ig as a whole, I provide a brace bar 21, which extends transversely of and is secured to the bars 16, 17 and 18, near one end thereof.

In the top end of the casing 10 is located the operating member or clothes and water receivng cylinder of the washing machine. Said cylinder is adapted to oscillate about a horizontal axis, parallel with the 7 front and rear walls of the casing, and includes flat upright end walls 23, to each of wh ch is secured a spider plate 2 1, only one of which is shown in Fig. 1. Each spider carries a horizontal stub shaft 25, which is journalled in a suitable bearing block (not shown) supported upon the frame of the casing 10, near the end walls 11, 11 in any convenient manner.

Below the operating member or cylinder 22, within the casing, is located my improved gearing for imparting an oscillating movement to the-said operating member and also for driving the clothes wringer in a manner to appear later.

The gearing includes a gear casing 26 arranged near that corner of the washing machine defined by the right. hand end wall l1 and the rear wall 13. The gear easing comprises a housing member 27 and a cover member 28, which are bolted together at their meeting edges, to provide an oil and grease tight gear chamber. The cover member 28, which is arranged adjacent the right hand end wall ll of the casing 10, includes a plurality of laterally extending lugs which are secured to the adjacent frame bars in any suitable manner to support the gear casing in its proper position. On the side of the housing member 27. opposite the cover member is an integral hollow boss 29 which opens into the gear chamber defined by the housing and cover members.

30 indicates the driven shaft of the gearing. Said shaft is disposed horizontally and is parallel with the stub shafts 25 of the cylinder, and one end of said shaft extends through and bears in the hollow boss 29, to project into a bearing recess 31 formed in the cover member 28. The other end of said shaft is journalled in a bearing block 32 carried upon the brace bar 21.

Loose on that end of the shaft 30, within the gear casing 26, is a large splral gear 33, which occupies the gear con'ipartment thereof. On that side of said gear casing adjacent the cover. is an integral bevel pinion 3st. and on the other side of said gear 33 is a hub which is formed to provide diametrically opposite. elongated clutch teeth 35. Associated with said clutch teeth, within the hollow boss 29, is aclutch collar 36 which also is loose on said shaft. Said clutch collar comprises a cylindrical body 37 of a diameter approximating that of the gear hub and one end of said body is notched or cut away as shown in Fig. 6, to provide oppositely disposed clutch teeth 38 which are COD'lPlQll'lQIlttll to the clutch teeth 35. \Vhen the clutch teeth and 38 are interengaged, the clutch collar 36 is capable of a limited endwise movement with respect to the gear 33, but is still driven thereby. On the other end of said body are clutch teeth 39 which are eccentrically disposed upon said end, that: is the major portion of said teeth is arranged in a plane to one side of the axis of the clutch men'iber. 40 indicates a radial flange on said clutch collar. A part of that face of the flange 40 adjacent the clutch teeth 3i) is cut away to provide a camv surface 41. having diametrically opposite nigh and low points.

Fixed to the shaft 30 within the hollow boss 29, between the end of said boss and the clutch collar 36 is a second clutch collar l2 with which the clutch collar 36 co-operates. The clutch collar 42 has diametrically opposite peripheral projections e3, 43 which are adapted to be engaged with a wiping action. by a spring pressed plunger ll. This plunger is slidably mounted in a fixed part.

of the casing in the plane of the clutch collar 42, and includes a stem of reduced di ameter which bears in a nut 4L6 threaded into said casing part. An expansion coil spring 47 surrounds'the plunger stem in such manner as to exert a pressure urging the plunger into engagement with the cam t2, the tension of the spring being regulated by the nut 4G in the manner well known. That face of clutch collar 42 adjacent the clutch collar 36 is provided with eccentri ally disposed, clutch recesses 42 which are complemental to the clutch teeth 39 sothat the said teeth and recesses must be in a definite relation before said teeth can enter said recesses. This definite relation of the teeth 39 and re cesses 42 is shown in Fig. 4. wherein the high point of the cam surface ll is at the top so that the teeth 39 may enter the recesses 42. lVhen said high" point is at the bottom. the teeth 3f) cannot enter the recesses 42 because of the eccentricity of the parts before n'ientioned. Surrounding the hub part of the gear -33 and the body part of the clutch collar 36 is an expansion coiled spring 4-8 which normally urges the loose clutch collar 36 into engagement with the fixed clutch collar 42.

The large spiral gear 33 is driven as follows: Made integral with the housing part 27 of the gear easing, below and extending parallel with the hollow boss 29, is an elongated sleeve 49 in which is journalled a horizontal shaft 49. To one end of said shaft within the gear chamber is fixed a pinion 50 (see dotted lines Fig. which meshes with he large gear 33. To the other end of said shaft is secured a pulley wheel 51 which is driven by a belt from an electric motor 52. Said motor is mounted on a platform which is secured at one end to the front brace bar 16 near the right hand end wall ll and is secured at its other end to a forwardly extending flange made integral with the housing part 27. Cushions of a yielding material. such as rubber are in terposedbctween said brace bar 16 and the end of the platform 53 secured to it. Said cushions absorb the vibration of the motor and substantially eliminates the hum of the same. Fixed to the cushioned end of the platform is a wooden block 56 on which is mounted one of the coacting adjustment plates 57 and 58, the latter being secured to the base of the motor 52". A hand screw 5!) is carried by the plate 57 and so engages the other plate that the motor may be shifted longitudinally of the platform to produce the desired tension in the belt 52.

In the cover plate 28 of the gear casing is provided a laterally extending hollowboss (it) in which is located a bevelled pinion (3] that meshes with the bevelled pinion 3 on the gear 33. The pinion til is secured to the bottom end of an upright shaft (3'2 Get of a horizontally swinging, clothes wringer mounted in a plane above the top of the cabinet or casing 10.

66 indicates the clutch control pm. This pin is mounted in the housing part 27 in a plane above the hollow boss 29 between the gear 33 and plunger 44. Said pin includes a vertical leg 67 which is adapted to slide through suitable bearing holes in said hollow boss, and a horizontal leg 67*, the end of which extends into a vertical groove 68 (see Fig. formed in the side wall of the housing above said hollow boss. By this construction the pin 66 as a whole, is capable of a vertical, sliding, guiding movement without side displacement. The vertical leg 67 of said pin is so positioned that when it is projected inwz rdly of the hollow boss 29, it will engage on the periphery of the flange 4.0 in the rotation of the clutch collar 36 and will slide off of the same so as to engage the low point of the cam 41 of said clutch collar, and as said clutch collar further rotates, then by the high point thereof. As the high point approaches the pin, the clutch collar is moved endwisc of the shaft 30, away from the other clutch collar 42, against the action of the spring 48, a distance equal to the longitudinal spacing of the high and low points of the cam, which is sutlicient to cause a complete disengagement between the two ClUtCll'HlGll'lbGl'S.

70 indicates a short horizontal rock shaft which is journaled in suitable bearing ears provided therefore on the housing 26 above and to one side of the plane of the driven shaft 230 (see Fig. To one end of said shaft is secured an arm 71 having a curved slot therein, through which the horizontal leg 67 of the pin 66 extends. To the other end of the shaft 70 is secured an arm 73. (:lonnected to the last named arm is a rod 74rwhich is inclined upwardly and forwardly to extend through an opening let in the rounded top wall 14. of the casing. Said rod terminates in a knob 75, located without the casing in convenient position for the operator to grasp the same, as shown in Fig. 1. Said rod has two notches 76, 76 near its knob end which coact with that part of the casing wall defining one end of the opening 14: to hold the rod in positions corresponding to said notches. gal-rounding the rod 74 between a collar 7st and a fixed part or shoulder 77 on the washing machine, is an expansion coiled spring 78 which normally urges the rod '74 downwardly to project the pin 66 into the hollow boss 25). By means of the notches 76. T6 and opening 145" it is apparent that the rod 74 may be located in that position wherein the pin (56 is \\"ithdrawn from the hollow boss 29 so that the two clutch collars 36 and 42 are engaged with each other.

The means for oscillating the cylinder is as follows: To that end of the driven shaft 80 journalled in the bearing block 32 before mentioned, is fixed a crank arm 7 9 which carries a crank pin 79 (see Fig. 1). A pitman 80 connects said crank pin with a stud 2-1 on one of the spiders of the cylinder It is apparent that when the shaft 30 is rotating, it will through the crank arm 79 and pitman 80, impart a rocking or oscillating movement to the cylinder 22.

The pitman 80 (see Fig. 5) is so constructed as to absorb and eliminate to a great extent, the shock or jar imparted to the gearing at the reversal of oscillation of the cylinder. Said pitman comprises a tubular body 81 which is closed at its bottom end by a plug 82, said plug including an eye to receive the crank pin 79. In the other end of the body is fixed an apertured plug 83 through which a rod 84 has sliding bearing. To that end of the rod without the body is secured av bearing eye 85 adapted to receive the pin 2% fixed to the spider e on the end wall of the operating member 22, as before mentioned. To that end of the rod 84 within the tubular body 80 is fixed a head 86 which fits the interior of the body substantially snug. interposed between the head and the plugs and 83 are expansion coiled spring 87 which normally balance each other.

After the proper amount of wash water and clothing has been placed in the oscillating operating member and the motor has been started and tlie rod 74. has been withdrawn to lift the clutch pin part (37 out of the way of the clutch member 3b. the spring 48 will move said clutch member into engagement with the clutch member 42 fixed to the driven shaft 30. This will rotate said shaft and through the pitman 80 will oscillate the operating member or cylinder. In the oscillation of the cylinder the water and clothing being washed are thrown from one side of the cylinder to the other in large swirls thus insuring a thorough cleansing of the clothes. Ordinarily the mon'icntum of the shifting loadat each reversal of movement of the cylinder imparts a heavy shock or jar to the gearing which actuates the cylinder. In my improved gearing, with the median plane of the projections at; of the clutch collar 42 arranged a short radial distance ahead of the median plane of the crank arm 79, as shown in F 4-, the plunger 44- will exert a braking action on the said clutch collar 42 and also on the driven shaft, each time the crank arm 7!.) reaches either limit of its throw or movement and will momentarily slow down the oscillation of the cylinder as it approaches its limits of moven'ient. As said braking action comes into etlect, one or the other ot the springs 8i embodied in the pitman St) is being compressed against its expansive tendency thus absorbing to a great extent, the momentum ot the cylinder so that the cylinder is tiirther slowed down in its n'ioven'ient when apprmiching the point or reversal. By the use of the two projections ti) on the tired clutch as. it is apparent that the braking action is applied twice during e ch rotation of the driven shatt which corresponds to a complete cycle of operation or oscillation of the clothes cylinder.

When it is desired to stop the oscillation of the cylinder 22. the rod 74: is released from its notched engagement with the r ECOSS or opening 1% atter which the spring 78 will force the same ii'iwardly into the position shown in Fig. In this movement ot the ro:l the arms it and T?) are swung counter clockwise and the leg GT ot' the pin 66 will be urged inwardly to engage the periphery of the flange it) of the collar 3-36. As the low point of the cam approaches the pin, said pin will slide oi? the same to engage the face of said low point. As said high point approaches the pin, which occurs as the crank arm swings upwardly, the clutch collar 36 is moved endwise ot the shaft, 30 away "From the clutch collar 42 against the action of the spring t8, a distance sutticient to cause a complete disengagement between the two clutch members. This disengagement occurs as one of the projections 43 ot the collar 4-2 approaches the plunger 4A and as the crank pin 79 reaches its highest position. With the clutch collars thus disengaged. and with the plunger ldacting on the clutch collar 42 as before described, it is apparent that the rotation ot the driven shaft ceases almost instantly. As the load of the water and clothes is now in that side ot the container opposite the pin 24? and as the container is disconnected from the gear the cylinder will always stop with its door and opening. in position beneath the door 15 in the washing machine casing.

ll'hen it is desired to again start the container it is only necessary to pull the rodi outwardly and engage the notch 76 thereof against the end of the slot l t" in the casing 1 Through the arms 71, T3, the leg (37 ot' the pin (36 is withdrawn out of the way of the clutch colla, 36 whereupon the spring 48 will urge the same toward the clutch coilar 42. The teeth 39 will enter the recess 32 in said colla and operatively connect the driven sha't't 3t) with the gear 33 when the cycle of operation will be the same as that betore described.

it is apparent from the t'm'cgoing construction that the oscillating movement ot' the container is slowed down, each time it approaches its limits ot oscillation, and said slowing down of the container together with the yielding movement of the pitman relieves the driving mechanism of the shock or strain at each reversal ot oscillation of the cylinder. Noise as well as the wear and tear on the driving mechanism is thus reduced to a minimum.

Furthermore the clothes container or operating member al *ays stops in a predetermined position, so that the clothes may he removed with a maxinunn of ease and e'tiiciency. The motor is so mounted in. position that the usual humming noise is substantially eliminated and the machine as a whole is indeed quite silent.

ll hile in describing my invention I have referred to certain details of construction and arrai'igement of parts, I do not wish to be limited thereto except. as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I. claim as my invention:

1. The combination of an oscillatorv operating member. a drive shaft, a driven shatt, means operatively connecting said. shafts together and including two clutch members, one loose and the other fixed to said driven shaft, a crank arm on the driven shaft. a pitman connecting said operating n'iember and said crank arm together. and means acting directly on one 01 the clutch members for retarding the rotation tliereot as said operating member approaches the limits oi. i s oscillating movement.

The combination of an oscillatory operating member, a drive shaft, a. driven shatt. means operatively connecting said shafts together and including two clutch members. one loose and the other fixed to said driven shaft, a cran arm on the driven shaft, a pitman connecting said operating member and said crank arm together. and means acting directly on the clutch member fixed to the driven shaft for retarding the rotation thereof as said operating member approaches the limits of its oscillating movement.

I}. The combination ot' an oscillatory operating member, a drive shatt, a driven shaft, means operatively connecting said shafts together, including two clutch mem bers, one loose and the other tixed to the driven shatt, said lixed clutch member having oppositely disposed, peripheral projections, a crank arm fixed to said driven shatt sul'istantially in line with the plane of the projections on the fixed clutch member, a pitman connecting said operating member and said crank arm, and a spring pressed plunger acting' on the periphery of said clutch mei'nliier and retarding the rotation ot the driven sha't't as said peripheral projections approach said plunger in timed relation to the limits of oscillating movement of said ope. ating member.

4:. In a gearing, the combination of a ca--- ing, a drive shaft and a driven shaft journalled therein, a loose gear on the driven shaft and a fixed gear on the drive shaft meshing therewith, a clutch member fixed on the driven shaft and having two oppositely disposed projections, a second clutch member loose on the driven shaft between said loose gear and fixed clutch, means for n'ioving said clutch members into engagement with each other, and a spring pressed plunger mounted. in the casing and engaging the periphery of said fixed clutch member, said plunger and said projections on the fixed clutch member combining to pro duce a braking action on the driven shaft, each time one of said fixed clutch projections approaches said plunger.

5. In a gearing, the combination of a cas ing, a drive shaft and a driven shaft journalled therein, a loose gear on the driven shaft and a fixed gear on the drive shaft meshing therewith, a clutch member fixed on the driven shaft and having two oppositely disposed projections, a second clutch member loose on the drive shaft between said loose gear and fixed. clutch, said second clutch member being capable of a limited endwise movement on the driven shaft but operatively connected to the loose gear, so as to be driven thereby, spring means normally urging the loose clutch into engagement with the fixed clutch member, means for shifting said loose clutch member away from the fixed clutch against the action of said spring means, and a spring pressed plunger mounted in the casing and engaging the periphery of said fixed clutch member, said plunger and said projection on the fixed clutch member combining to produce a braking action on the driven shaft each time one of said fixed clutch projections approaches said plunger.

6. The combination of a support, an operating member mounted on the support for an oscillatory movement, a casing mounted on the support below said operating member, a driven shaft journalled in the casing, a crank arm fixed to said shaft without the casing, a member fixed to said shaft within the casing and having two oppositely disposed projections, the plane of which is substantially coincident with the plane of the crank arm, a pitman connecting the crank arm and operating member and a spring pressed plunger mounted in the casing radially of the shaft to engage the periphery of said member fixed to said shaft and to exert a braking action thereon, each time the plane of the crank arm approaches the plane of said plunger.

7. The combination of a driven shaft having a crank arm secured thereto, a driven member loose on said shaft, a clutch member loose on said shaft and operatively connected to said driven member, a second clutch member fixed on said shaft, said clutch members having parts adapted for operative engagement when said clutch members are in one predetermined, relative angular position only, means for disenga ing said members, and a radially disposed spring pressed plunger adapted to exert a braking action on said fixed clutch member each time the radial plane of the crank arm approaches that of said plunger.

8. The con'ibination of a driven shaft having a crank arm secured thereto, a driven member loose on said shaft and a clutch member fixed on said shaft, said fixed clutch member including two oppositely disposed peripheral projections, both of said members having coacting teeth and recesses adapted for inter-engagement when said members are in one predetermined angular position only, means for disengaging said members, and a radially disposed, spring pressed plunger adapted to exert a braking action on said fixed clutch member, each time one of said projections approach the plane of said plunger, the plane of said projections being ar'anged a short angular dis tance ahead of that of the crank arm.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 23 day of July, A. D. 1923.

WILLIAM H. GEORGE. lVitnesses J. WARD, lV. D. HUNT. 

